Ashley Jackson hits India jackpot

IT TOOK a while but it was worthwhile. The auction for some of the world’s best players to take part in the new Hockey India League stretched to double its allocated time. But after 10 hours Ashley Jackson, the Great Britain midfielder, went for £45,000.

He was the sixth highest priced player in the five team franchises, and will play in the Ranchi Rhinos squad, along with the world player of the year, Germany’s double gold Olympian Moritz Fuertze, India midfielder Manpreet Singh, South Africa’s former Reading striker Austin Smith and New Zealand’s Nick Wilson.

If it all goes to plan next month Jackson will have a fantastic experience over five weeks of top-class competition.

Jackson was at the Maxifuel Super Sixes at the superb St George’s Park facility at Burton scoring goals for East Grinstead in their bid to qualify for a fifth successive indoor title in the finals at Wembley Arena on Sunday, January 27, which he will miss.

The money will help take me through the next four-year Olympic cycle, maybe into savings for a house

Ashley Jackson

“It’s great,” he said. “I was watching the auction and it wasn’t looking good at first. The money will help take me through the next four-year Olympic cycle, maybe into savings for a house.

“But it’s not the money, it is the idea of playing in this sort of tournament with the top players in front of fantastic crowds. I will get to experience a bit of India, to see it properly. There are some exciting names there.”